I'm considering buying surplus ammunition for my Mosin for target practice. Obviously, it's very economical, and I'm not too worried about getting a few misfires here and there. However, I am concerned about the effects of the corrosive primer. I have heard using ammonia-based windex nuetralizes the chemicals, is this true? Also, I live about 45 minutes from the range, so I can't clean right after I shoot. Is this too long to leave the grime in the barrel? I stumbled upon a shooter with good bore/rifling so I really don't want to screw it up. Thanks in advance for any help!
7.62x54r surplus ammo
- Thread starter rifleman8
- Start date
Corrosive ammo is no big deal. The windex doesn't doesn't do jack squat on corrosive fouling. You'll often hear people say things like "windex neutralizes the corrosive salts." Ummm...no. Pure myth.
All you need is some hot soapy water. Clean the barrel and the bolt and anything else they may have fouling on it. Dry and oil and your good to go.
Or you could just do what I've done for the last 20 years, use Hoppes #9 and call it good. I shoot corrosive surplus ammo all the time and have NEVER had a problem with just using Hoppes.
All you need is some hot soapy water. Clean the barrel and the bolt and anything else they may have fouling on it. Dry and oil and your good to go.
Or you could just do what I've done for the last 20 years, use Hoppes #9 and call it good. I shoot corrosive surplus ammo all the time and have NEVER had a problem with just using Hoppes.
Father Time
New member
Waiting 45 minutes before cleaning isn't going to cause any problems with corrosive ammo.
If you went weeks without cleaning then you might start to have some problems.
If you went weeks without cleaning then you might start to have some problems.
Thanks for the replies! I'm definitely going to buy some surplus now, I just didn't want to take a chance with my rifle (I kinda baby my firearms). Should I take apart the bolt assembly and clean each piece, or just clean the assembled bolt? Sorry if these questions seem stupid to you guys
Your definitely going to want to strip the bolt down. The easiest method is to just get a bucket fill it with hot soapy water (you can use dish detergent, Dawn works good) and dunk each piece of the bolt into it and use a nylon bristle brush and scrub away. Make sure to dry and or oil each piece thoroughly before reassembling and your good to go.
argyle1812
New member
I just clean my guns with Hoppes No 9 solvent it says specifically its for corrosive ammo works great!
Corrosive ammo is not a problem unless you do not clean your rifle. Use hoppe's #9 and keep cleaning that barrel untill no more blue/green/dirty patches come out.
I field strip my mosin, bolt apart, clean all parts with hoppe's #9. Also where the bolt sits/magazine slot, clean that too. It takes about 1 hour for a good clean. Some people use buckets, I just take wet patches and wipe it down untill the blue/green grit goes away. Hoppe's #9 stinks so open a window or have some fans on. Have no fear shooting surplus stuff! I got some from 1968a 440 tin, I shot over 250 rounds and no FTF.
I field strip my mosin, bolt apart, clean all parts with hoppe's #9. Also where the bolt sits/magazine slot, clean that too. It takes about 1 hour for a good clean. Some people use buckets, I just take wet patches and wipe it down untill the blue/green grit goes away. Hoppe's #9 stinks so open a window or have some fans on. Have no fear shooting surplus stuff! I got some from 1968a 440 tin, I shot over 250 rounds and no FTF.
Singlesix1954
New member
I shoot surplus ammo and have no trouble. Just use a good cleaner when you get home. My Mosin is fun with surplus stuff because it's so cheep that it makes it guilt free shoot'n.
Bamashooter
New member
Rifleman8... I have 4 mosin;s and all I have ever done is pour hot water down the barrel a couple times and clean usually with a foam bore cleaner. I havent had one to rust yet.
If you can find bulgarian yellow tipped heavy ball in 300rd. tins its pretty good surplus ammo. Thats what I shoot the most of.
If you can find bulgarian yellow tipped heavy ball in 300rd. tins its pretty good surplus ammo. Thats what I shoot the most of.
I've fired countless rounds of corrosive surplus through my M44 Mosin with its pristine bore. I do use Windex (followed by Hoppes) and the bore has remained as shiny and corrosion-free as the day I bought the rifle (couple years ago). Is it because it "neutralized the corrosive salts" ? Probably not, Windex is mostly water, and it's probably the water that does the job but why mess with a method that's worked for me for years?
In regards to getting a few misfires here and there, I've never encountered any misfires with any of the surplus 7.62x54R ammo I've ever shot.
In regards to getting a few misfires here and there, I've never encountered any misfires with any of the surplus 7.62x54R ammo I've ever shot.
Silent Titan
New member
+1 on the hoppes no. 9, its what i ues and i have had no problems in any of my guns. stuff works great, shoot till you shoulder is sore or ammo runs dry and then a good cleaning. all my C&R guns run this pattern and they all shoot and look just as good as they would if i shot non corrosive ammo. shoot, clean, oil... they made these guns to shoot lots of rounds guilt free. for the most part any gun that uses 7.62x54r was made to see combat, i would be more worried about recent production ammo than any corrosive ammo (not by much, pulling the trigger and getting a dented primer on a 50 year old bullet makes me hold my breath). take care of your rifle after shooting and it will be a gift that keeps on giving
You would be absolutely wrong.
What exactly do you think Windex is? Primarily water. Water is what neutralizes the salts in the primers, not the ammonia. While ammonia makes a great copper solvent, the concentration in Windex is not high enough to have any meaningful effect.
However, Windex works fine, it is dirt cheap, and everyone already has a convenient bottle, and it doesn't contain any mineral crap that can be found in tap water.
Boiling water actually works best, as it evaporates really quickly.
Seriously though, don't be afraid on corrosive surplus ammo. That is all the gun fired it's entire life before it came in to your hands.
Nick9130White
New member
I use hoppes #9 for surplus in my Mosin. I've had no problems with it.
Kreyzhorse
New member
Shoot it and then clean your gun afterwards. Corrosive ammo, while, well corrosive, isn't going to eat your rifle up 5 minutes after firing it.
Forget the windex and you don't have to speed home after the range. I clean my guns using Hoppes 9 and haven't had any issues. Keep in mind this is military ammo and was made to be used by men in the field. They weren't going to clean their guns immedidately after firing them nor did they have access to hot water and various other remedies.
Shoot your gun, clean with your bore cleaner of choice and you should be good.
Forget the windex and you don't have to speed home after the range. I clean my guns using Hoppes 9 and haven't had any issues. Keep in mind this is military ammo and was made to be used by men in the field. They weren't going to clean their guns immedidately after firing them nor did they have access to hot water and various other remedies.
Shoot your gun, clean with your bore cleaner of choice and you should be good.
I'm a bit different. I don't mind cleaning after using corrosive ammo, no biggie, my problem is I can load better ammo. I haven't found any corrosive ammo that I can reload, they don't use boxer primers.
I bought my Mosin with the intent of using it in CMP-GSM games. I couldn't find any brass except Norma, I found I could buy loaded Winchester stuff cheaper then I could buy Norma brass. So I bit the bullet and bought Winchester Loaded ammo and use the brass.
I don't load hot, (you don't need too, nor is it the most accurate when you are only shooting 200 yards), Mild loads is easy on the brass, easy on the shooter, and normally more accurate.
I bought my Mosin with the intent of using it in CMP-GSM games. I couldn't find any brass except Norma, I found I could buy loaded Winchester stuff cheaper then I could buy Norma brass. So I bit the bullet and bought Winchester Loaded ammo and use the brass.
I don't load hot, (you don't need too, nor is it the most accurate when you are only shooting 200 yards), Mild loads is easy on the brass, easy on the shooter, and normally more accurate.
Norma is good brass no doubt. But so is Winchester. (probably the most common brass in HP match and service rifles).
I just checked Midway. 20 rounds of Norma brass = $35.49, 20 rounds of Winchester loaded 180 grn SP = $21.49. That's a huge difference.
There isnt much of a difference in the accuracy of the brass (though I've found Winchester more accurate in my rilfes), but at 200 yards when you only need 3.5 MOA to clean the targets, is the cost difference worth it?
I just checked Midway. 20 rounds of Norma brass = $35.49, 20 rounds of Winchester loaded 180 grn SP = $21.49. That's a huge difference.
There isnt much of a difference in the accuracy of the brass (though I've found Winchester more accurate in my rilfes), but at 200 yards when you only need 3.5 MOA to clean the targets, is the cost difference worth it?